It’s really true what people say about English politeness: it’s everywhere. When squeezing past someone in a narrow aisle, people say “sorry”. When getting off a bus, English passengers say “thank you” rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles and came to appreciate some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customers and retail assistants in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one “thank you” in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized (强调) several times that none of their words were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This is also shown in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter (后者) are a bit tightfisted.What is the author’s attitude towards English politeness?
| A．He appreciatesit. | B．He gives no personal opinion. |
| C．He thinks it is unnecessary. | D．He thinks it goes too far. |
What can we learn about customers and retail assistants in Germany?
| A．A customer never says thank you to a retail assistant. |
| B．They may say thank you only once. |
| C．It’s always a retail assistant who says thank you. |
D．They always say  thank you to each other. |
We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men __________.
| A．are not so willing to spend money for women |
| B．are more polite than English men |
| C．treat women in an impolite way |
| D．are more likely to be involved in a fighting |
The author develops the text through the method of ____________.
| A．giving reasons | B．telling stories | C．giving comments | D．making comparisons |
When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farmstead, in the winter especially, we wear quite out off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its problems too.
One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basi
cs like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma（哮喘）, and at times the air is so dirty that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising - and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
| A．Staying on the farm. | B．Moving to the countryside. |
| C．Leaving home for the city. | D．Running away from the school. |
Which of the following is true about the writer?
| A．He is very old now. | B．He is in good health. |
| C．He prefers driving a car. | D．He lives in the city now. |
In the passage, the writer tries to _________.
| A．express his opinions about way of life |
| B．describe his life in the countryside |
| C．show an interest in the outside world |
| D．persuade the reader to live in the city |
How is the passage mainly developed?
| A．By inferring. | B．By comparing. |
| C．By listing examples. | D．By giving explanations. |
If you're into sports, you've seen it happen． You've probably even experienced it: basketball players shaking hands after four quarters of knocking each other around, tennis players leaping over the net to shake hands with their oppone
nts （对手） after a hard-fought match, soccer players exchanging sport shirts after an intense 90 minutes, even boxers touching gloves at the beginning of each round, then hugging each other after beating each other into a pulp for 12 rounds． It seems like competitors in every event, from spelling bees to hockey, behave this way． What's going on?
It's all part of sportsmanship, a great tradition in sports and competition that means playing clean and handling both vict
ory and defeat with grace, style, and dignity．
What is sportsmanship? Sportsmanship is defined as: playing fair, following the rules of the game, respecting the judgment of referees and officials, treating opponents with respect．
Some people define good sportsmanship as the "golden rule" of sports --- in other words, treating the people you play with and against as you'd like to be treated yourself． You demonstrate good sportsmanship when you show respect for yourself, your teammates, and your opponents, for the coaches on both sides, and for the referees, judges, and other officials．
But sportsmanship isn't just reserved for the people on the field． Cheerleaders and fans also need to be aware of how they behave during competition． Sportsmanship is a style and an attitude; and it can have a positive influence on everyone around you．
Learning good sportsmanship mea
ns finding that the positive attitude learned on the field carries over into other areas of life． At school, for example, you're able to appreciate the contributions made by classmates and know how to work as part of a team to complete a project． You may enjoy more success at work as well, because a big part of learning good sportsmanship is learning to be respectful of others, including customers and co-workers．The author introduces the topic of the passage by___________．
| A．showing an interesting discussion |
| B．comparing several sport events |
| C．explaining some game rules |
| D．giving some specific examples |
When players play clean, ____________．
| A．they play in fresh air | B．they play in a skilled way |
| C．they play within the rules | D．they play without hurting each other |
The purpose of writing this passage is to ____________．
| A．advise readers to take some exercise | B．provide some basic sport knowledge |
| C．show the meaning of sportsmanship | D．expect players to compete actively |
No one wants to look stupid or do the wrong thing at a new job. It is important to make the right impression from the very first day. You will face new 
people. You will be in a new place.
It may be difficult to know what to do. Here are five tips to help you make it through the first days at a new job:
1. First impressions can last forever. Make sure you make a good one. Before your first day, find out if your new job has a dress code (rules about what you can wear to work). If so, be sure to follow it. No matter what, always be neat and clean.
2. Get to work on time. Give yourself an extra15 minutes to make sure you arrive on time.
3. Pay attention to introductions. One of the first things that your supervisor may do is to introduce you to co-workers. These co-workers will be important to you. They are the ones who will answer your questions when the boss is not around.
4. Ask plenty of questions. Make sure that your supervisor has told you what is expected of you. If he or she has not told you your duties, ask for a list. Set daily and weekly goals for yourself.
5. Never be the first one to leave. Observe(观察) what your co-workers do around quitting time 
(下班时间). It does not look good for you to be eager to leave. Before you arrive at work on the first day, you should __________.
| A．dress in a right way | B．introduce yourself |
| C．know your duties | D．know your co-workers well |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．You should be the first one to arrive at work. |
| B．You should ask your co-workers about your duties. |
| C．You should not be eager to go back home after work. |
| D．You are required to arrive 15 minutes earlier. |
According to the passage, your supervisor is most likely your _____________.
| A．visitor | B．teacher | C．workmate | D．leader |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Getting a New Job. | B．Tips on How to Work. |
| C．The First-day Work. | D．The Importance of Co-workers. |
Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and his family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We talked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After s
o many years, I’m at last seeing anot
her side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was. Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?
| A．He was silent most of the time. | B．He was too proud of himself. |
| C．He did not love his children. | D．He expected too much of her. |
When the author went out with her father on weekend, she would feel .
| A．nervous | B．sorry | C．tired | D．safe |
What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?
| A．More critical. | B．More talkative. |
| C．Gentle and friendly. | D．Strict and hard-working. |
The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to .
| A．the author’s son | B．the author’s father |
| C．the friend of the author’s father | D．the café owner |
Why must we pay taxes? The answer is that the government needs money for many things, for example to pay its soldiers, sailors and airmen, to build roads, bridges, offices, schools, etc and to buy goods from abroad; and only the people of the country can supply the money．One of the most important taxes is income-tax which a person pays according to the amount of his income-tax．Whether he is a businessman, a doctor, a lawyer, a shopkeeper, a miner, or anything else．This is called a “direct” tax, because it is paid in money direct to the government．
Another tax is paid on goods such as watches, jewellery, new clothes, tobacco, wine, etc, when they are brought into a country, such a tax is paid as part of the price of these goods if they are later sold in shops．We call it “indirect” tax, because it is paid indirectly through the shopkeeper．
People usually complain about having to pay taxes, but they forget that the money is spent on the things that they and their families need．We need policemen to catch thieves, to see that men obey the laws, to direct traffic, etc, and they must be paid what they earn; children need education and there must be schools and teachers; we want our streets to be kept clean, and the wages of men who do this kind of work have to be paid．Above all, the country must always be ready to defend itself against attacking enemies, and we cannot have an army without paying for it．
Taxes, therefore, cannot be avoided．We buy our own food and clothes and pay for our own amusements, but there are several things that the State finds the money for, and that are necessary for us if our society is to continue．So we have no real cause to complain when we are asked to supply money to be spent for the good of ourselves and for our fellow-citizens．Indirect tax means _______．
| A．tax that one pays direct to the government |
| B．tax that is not paid directly to the government |
| C．tax that is paid as an extra amount added to the price of certain goods |
| D．Both B and C |
Which of the following is right?
| A．Taxes are paid to the sellers． |
| B．Income-tax is an indirect tax． |
| C．The tax on new clothes is paid in money direct to the government． |
| D．Tax is amount of money that you have to pay to the government so that it can pay for public services． |
People have no real reason to complain about having to pay taxes because _______．
| A．some shopkeepers are very rich |
| B．they need money to buy goods from abroad |
| C．their children need education |
| D．the money is spent on the things that they and their families need |
Beldon and Canfield are two seashore towns, not far apart．Both towns have many hotels, and in summer the hotels are full of holiday-makers and other tourists．
Last August there was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel in Beldon．The next day, this news appeared on page two of the town’s newspaper．The Beldon Post:
FIRE AT SEABREEZE
Late last night firemen hurried to the Seabreeze Hotel and quickly put out a small fire in a bedroom．The hotel manager said that a cigarette started the fire．We say again to all our visitors： “Please don’t smoke cigarettes in bed．” This was Beldon’s first hotel fire for five years．
The Canfield Times gave the news in these words on page one：
ANOTHER BELDON HOTEL CATCHES FIRE
Last night Beldon firemen arrived just too late to save clothing, bedclothes and some furniture at the Seabreeze Hotel．An angry holiday-maker said, “An electric lamp probably started the fire．The bedroom lamps are very old at some of these hotels．When I put my bedside light on, I heard a funny noise from the lamp．” We are glad to tell our readers that this sort of adventure does not happen in Canfield．
What are the facts, then? It is never easy to find out the exact truth about an accident．There was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel last August: that is one fact．Do we know anything else? Yes, we know that firemen went to the hotel．
Now what do you think of the rest of the “news” ?Which of the following best gives the main idea of this text?
| A．Beldon and Canfield are both good places for tourists in summer． |
| B．A fire broke out at night in Seabreeze Hotel last summer． |
| C．It was not easy to find out exact truth from newspapers． |
| D．Two newspapers gave reports on the same matter． |
Which of the following are probably facts?
a．The fire broke out in a bedroom at the hotel．
b．A cigarette started the fire．
c．An old lamp started the fire．
d．The fire broke out at night．
e．There has never been a fire in Canfield．
| A．b and c | B．a and d | C．c and e | D．a and c |
The Canfield Times used the headline like this in order to make its readers think _______．
| A．hotels in Beldon often catch fire |
| B．hotels in Beldon don’t often catch fire |
| C．this was the second fire at the Seabreeze Hotel |
| D．Beldon was a good place except that hotels there are not quite safe |
The Canfield newspaper gave a report just the opposite to the Beldon Post by saying that _______．
| A．the bedroom lamps were very old at the Seabreeze Hotel |
| B．the bedroom lights made funny noise when the fire took place |
| C．the firemen failed to save clothing, bedclothes and other things |
| D．such accidents never happened in Canfield for the past 5 years |
Not too long ago, a Chicago brewery (酿造厂) introduced a new beer that was supposed to be the least fattening（making people fat） on the market. It was lighter, so they called it LITE. Only two months after the new beer had been on sale, however, strange new ads appeared in the Chicago newspapers. They read ’LITE Tastes Soapy’. The public, of course, was confused. Who wanted a beer that tasted like soap（肥皂）, even if it was non-fattening?
The new ads weren’t talking about LITE beer, however. They were for a product of the LITE Soap Company. The president of the LITE Soap Company, Mrs Ruth Ascott, was very upset with the brewery for taking the name of her high-powered detergent (洗涤剂) and using it as the name of a new beer. LITE Soap had had the same name for 53 years. She wrote to the brewery, insisting that they should not use the word LITE in their beer ads. The brewery replied that they could—and would—because beer and soap were so different. They planned to ignore the ’LITE Tastes Soapy’ ads, since the public knew which LITE was which.
Mrs Ascott then wanted to plan a new campaign. The ads would read ’LITE Is Wonderful for Washing Clothes’.It is clear that _____.
A. the Chicago brewery was sure the soap company would add to its fame
В. the LITE Soap Company is happy to know the name of the beer
С. the ad ’LITE Tastes Soapy’ did harm to LITE the beer
D. the brewery was not surprised at all to see the ad ’LITE Tastes Soapy’It seems that_____.
A. the new beer may lose weight В. the brewery was right
С. making ads is not difficult D. most beer makes us fatWhen the ad ’LITE Tastes Soapy’ comes out, _____.
A. the beer sold well on the market
В. it confused some consumers of the beer
С. people thought the beer was the least fattening
D. people began to like the product from LITE Soap CompanyWe may conclude that_____.
A. neither of the two products sells well
В. both the two companies get on very well
С. the brewery did wrong to the LITE Soap Company
D. it was wrong of the soap company to have LITE as her own nameWhen the public read the ad in the last paragraph, they _____.
A. might wash their clothes with the beer В. are likely to stop to buy the beer
С. might be more confused than ever before D. may find out which LITE was which
Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing(
咒骂) the disputed refereeing (裁判) decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.
The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛) involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.
Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.
The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were
close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.
There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.
If FIFA, football's international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.
He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to _______.
| A．reexamine the rules for football refereeing |
| B．analyse the causes of errors made by football referees |
| C．set a standard for football refereeing |
| D．review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World Cup |
The findings of the experiment show that _______.
| A．errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball |
| B．the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors |
| C．the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur |
| D．errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot |
The word “officials” (Line 2, Para. 4) most probably refers to _______.
| A．the researchers involved in the experiment |
| B．the inspectors of the football tournament |
| C．the referees of the football tournament |
| D．the observers at the site of the experiment |
What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?
| A．The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45. |
| B．Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee. |
| C．A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible. |
| D．An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition. |
Beware of those who use the truth to cheat. When someone tells you something that is true, but leaves out important information that should be included, he can create a false impression.
For example, someone might say,“I just won a hundred dollars on the lottery（抽奖）. It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and turned it in for one hundred dollars!”
This guy’s a winner, right? Maybe, maybe not. We then discover that he bought two hundred tickets, and only one was a winner. He’s really a big loser!
He didn’t say anything that was false, but he deliberately omitted important information. That’s called a half-truth. Half-truths are not technically lies, but they are just as dishonest.
Untrustworthy candidates in political campaigns often use this tactic (策略). Let’s say that during Governor Smith’s last term, her state lost one million jobs and gained three million jobs. Then she seeks another term. One of her opponents runs an as saying, “During Government Smith’s term, the state lost one million jobs!”That’s true. However an honest statement would have been, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state had a net (净余的) gain of two million jobs.”
Advertisers will sometimes use half-truths. It’s against the law to make false claims so they try to mislead you with the truth. An ad might say, “Nine out of ten doctors recommend Yucky Pills to cure nose pimples (丘疹).” It fails to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Corporation.
This kind of deception happens too often. It’s a sad fact of lif
e: Lies are lies, and sometimes the truth can lie as well. Which statement is true according to the article?
| A．Whenever people tell the truth, they are really lying. |
| B．The truth can be used in dishonest ways |
| C．All governors help their states. |
| D．You can’t trust gamblers (赌博的人) |
The author clearly wants people to .
| A．vote for female candidates |
| B．know that lies are lies |
| C．never trust anyone |
| D．think carefully about what they read and hear |
Which of the following would be the best title?
| A．Lying With the Truth | B．Everyone Lies |
| C．Yucky Corporation | D．Nose Pimples |
There are three kinds of goals: short-term, intermediate and long-term goals. Short-term goals are those that usually deal with present activities. Such goals can be achieved in a week or two, or possible months. It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation (基础), our long-term goals cannot be achieved without the achievement of solid short-term goals. Upon completing our short-term goals, we should date the time and then add new short-term goals that will build on those that have been completed.
The intermediate goals build on the foundation 
of the short-term goals. They might deal with just one term of school or the entire school years, or they could extend for several years. Any time you move a step at a time, you never allow yourself to become discouraged. As you complete each step, you will have more belief in your ability to grow and succeed.
Long-term goals may be related to our dreams of future. They might cover five years or more. Life is not a static (静态的) thing. We should never allow a long-term goal to limit us or our course of action. The long-term goals mean______.
| A．something static and easy to get if we complete our short-term goals |
| B．something easy to reach if we complete a short-term goal in time |
C．nothing but our dream s of future |
| D．a lot, such as a dream, and aspiration (热望) or a wish in our life |
When we complete each step of our goals, ______.
| A．we will win final success | B．we become down-hearted |
| C．we should encourage ourselves | D．we should think about changing our goals |
It is the most important for us student
s to have ___________ first.
| A．long-term goals | B．intermediate goals |
| C．short-term goals | D．dreams of future |
Which of the following titles is best for this passage?
| A．Three Kinds of Goals | B．How to Reach Goals |
| C．Changeable Goals | D．Moveable Goals |
Even if you are naturally shy, these three tricks will help you to quickly build a new social circle in any new city．
1．Take pictures
One of the great things about taking pictures at an event or party is that it gives you an excuse to get in touch with a person．Everybody loves seeing pictures of themselves，and it’s very easy after taking a picture to say “If you’d like I can email it to you”．This can be the seed that leads to new connections．The next time you hear about a fun event email your new contacts to let them know about it．
2．Eat alone in public
You might feel self-conscious eating by yourself but it has an important benefit：you are much easier to approach when you are alone．People may be afraid of interrupting you or being rude if you are in a conversation with someone else．Bring a book or newspaper to read (this will make you feel less self-conscious)．Plus，having an interesting book with you will give others an excuse to start a conversation if they’ve read it．
3．Join a
class，sports team，or club
Yoga，salsa dancing，volleyball，Toastmasters (a public speaking club)，a class for work，etc. Take up a new hobby or continue an old one!
These are all great places to meet new people，primarily because you will be forced to see the same people over and over again in the
class．You will automatically make friends with them if you have a common interest and are forced to see each other again．
Tips：
* In the beginning．never turn down an invitation from someone，even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally do．
* Email your new friends with fun things to do instead of always asking what their plans are, If t
hey have a better plan you can drop (放弃) yours and join them．This will help establish（建立） you as someone who is contributing value instead of just taking it (people want this in a friend) ．
*Don’t let little things in life upset you or be a negative person．People don’t want to be around someone like that！ can give you an excuse to start new connections．
| A．Taking pictures of others | B．Eating by yourself in public |
C．Reading i nteresting books |
D．Joining group activities |
According to the text，which of the following is NOT mentioned as an advantage of joining a class?
| A．It helps you find out your interest and take up a new hobby． |
| B．It helps you find out people who share a common interest with you． |
| C．It offers an opportunity to meet the same people repeatedly． |
| D．It is a good way to meet new people and make friends in a new city． |
Which of the following pieces of advice is a tip from the text?
| A．Try to be outgoing and talkative instead of being shy． |
| B．Never turn down an invitation from your friends． |
| C．Offer suggestions on how to spend time together． |
| D．Don’t give a negative response to any request． |
They once seemed more at home on the busy streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and
Bangkok but cycle powered rickshaws (人力车) can now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution. In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new model of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks.
“It is
completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy.” said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year.
While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis’ green ideas, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashion in Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997.
“It’s better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train,” said ULF Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. “ It feels so free.”
“This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin,” said another traveler.
In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped off another passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi.
Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past.
Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not requir
ed to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?
| A．Delhi, Berlin, Paris. | B．Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi. |
| C．Athens, London, Berlin. | D．Berlin, Amsterdam, London. |
Why are rickshaws no longer as widely used in India as in the past?
| A．They are a reminder of a bad period in India's history. |
| B．They have been banned because they are inefficient. |
| C．The streets of India are too crowded for them to move through easily. |
| D．Indians now prefer to travel by car because they are richer. |
What does the underlined sentence "This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in
Bangkok instead of Berlin" suggest?
| A．The passenger didn't like taking a rickshaw as it reminded him of Bangkok. |
| B．The passenger enjoyed being on holiday in Berlin more than in Bangkok. |
C．The passenger was impressed when taking a rickshaw an d considered it unusual. |
| D．The passenger disapproved of rickshaws because they were not original to Berlin. |
What is the author's attitude towards rickshaws?
| A．He gives no personal opinion. |
| B．He believes they will be of no use. |
| C．He thinks they will reduce pollution. |
| D．He thinks they are old-fashioned. |
The Barbie doll first appeared at the toy fair in New York in 1959. Its creator was Ruth Handler, an American businesswoman. She and her husband Elliott along with Harold Matt Matson started the toy company Mattel. She based the design of the new doll on a German doll named Bild Lilli and named her after their daughter Barbara.
The first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit and had her hair in a ponytail(马尾辫). She looked very grown-up. But any concerns that parents would not want to buy it for little girls were soon proved wrong.
Mattel sold 300,000 Barbie dolls in the first year at a pri
ce of three dollars. Today, a fifty-year-old Barbie in good condition might cost more than 27,000 dollars.
Barbie dolls have represented 50 different nationalities and are sold in 150 countries. Mattel says 90% of girls in the United States between the ages of three and ten own at least one Barbie doll. It says girls between the ages of three and six own an average of about 12.
Barbie also faced her share of critics. A well-known example was when women’s education groups objected to a talking Barbie doll that declared, among other things, “Math class is tough!” Mattel agreed to change it. Saudi Arabia has banned Barbie dolls. And a lawmaker in the American state of West Virginia would like to do the same. Last month, he proposed banning sales of Barbie and other dolls that influence girls to put too much importance on physical beauty.
Some people say Barbie is an unhealthy role model for young girls. Robin Gerber disagrees. She wrote a book about Barbie. She points out dolls like scientist Barbie and race car driver Barbie. She says people who criticize Barbie should tell girls the story of the businesswoman who created her. She says Ruth Handler wanted the dolls to help girls think about what they wanted to do with their lives.The first Barbie doll might not be popular among little girls because _______.
| A．her hairstyle was out of fashion |
| B．her appearance looked much too mature |
| C．her way of dressing was against the tradition |
| D．physical beauty wasn’t thought to be important |
From the passage we know that Mattel ________.
| A．is one of the world’s largest toy companies |
| B．is the director of an American toy company |
| C．was the woman who originally created Barbie |
| D．was a salesman who was good at selling Barbie dolls |
Barbie dolls are criticized partly because they make girls ________.
| A．pay too much attention to their physical beauty |
| B．neglect their schoolwork and inner beauty |
| C．prefer physical beauty to inner beauty |
| D．waste too much time and money on clothes |
It can be inferred from the last paragraph that in her book Robin Gerber ________.
| A．shows Barbie dolls have a negative influence on girls |
| B．praises a successful person who sells Barbie dolls |
| C．expresses her own favorable opinion about Barbie |
| D．argues for banning the sales of Barbie dolls |
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stre
ss gets out of
control that it can lead to poor performance
and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "figh
t" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress is, it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives (it would be unwise to do so even if we could), we need to find ways to deal with it. People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.
| A．they do not know how to enjoy themselves |
| B．they do not believe that relaxation is important for health |
| C．they are travelling fast all the time |
| D．they are becoming busier with their work |
According to
the writer, the most important character for a good manager is his ________.
| A．not fearing stress | B．knowing the art of relaxation |
| C．high sense of responsibility | D．h aving control over performance |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．We can find some ways to avoid stress. |
| B．Stress is always harmful to people. |
| C．It is easy to change the habit of keeping oneself busy with work. |
| D．Different people can withstand different amounts of stress. |
In the last sentence of the passage, "do so " refers to ______.
| A．"expose ourselves to stress" |
| B．"find ways to deal with stress" |
| C．"remove stress from our lives" |
| D．"established links between diseases and stress" |
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